Baptized Into Christ

Also, notice that it is baptism that puts us into
Christ so that we can be saved. Galatians 3:27, "For as many of
you as were baptized into Christhave put on Christ."
This is the only way a person can get into Christ. The preposition into
indicates a change of relationship. You can search from the front to the
back of your Bible, and you will find no other way to get into Christ except
by being baptized into Christ.
Also Romans 6:3 says the same thing, "Or do you not know, that as
many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into
his death?" So the only way we can get into Christ is to be baptized
into Christ. Either a person has been baptized into Christ, or
he is still outside of Christ. We are either in or we are out. Have you
been baptized into Christ in order to be saved and have your sins
forgiven? If you haven't
been, let us notice some of the things that you are missing.

1) Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in heavenly places in Christ." This verse tells
us that every spiritual blessing is located in Christ. Only those
who are in Christ can enjoy these spiritual blessings. Since this
verse says that every spiritual blessing is in Christ, then there can be
no spiritual blessings for those who are outside of Christ. If you have
not been baptized into Christ, you are still outside of Christ, and you
are not entitled to any spiritual blessings. The Lord arranged it
that way and no man has the right to change it.

2) Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk
according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." On the day of
judgment those who are in Christ will not be condemned; but those
who are outside of Christ will be condemned. We go from being
condemned to being forgiven when we are baptized into Christ. If you have not been
baptized into Christ, then you will suffer eternal condemnation.

3 & 4) Only those who are inChrist have been
redeemed and forgiven of their sins. Ephesians 1:7 says, "In Him
we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace." since redemption and
forgiveness of sins are located in Christ, those who have not been
baptized into Christ have not been redeemed and still have every sin they
have ever committed. The scriptures are so clear that a person needs help
to misunderstand it. Are you still outside of Christ? You do not have to
stay outside of Christ.

5) Next we read II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new." If one is in
Christ, he has become a new creation. He has a new beginning in
life, and his "slate has been wiped clean" since he has been
forgiven of all his sins and has become a new saved person. Although, if
you are outside of Christ, you are still an old sinful creature. You still
have all of your sins and are without hope. When is it that one becomes a
new creation? Romans 6:3-4 says, "Or do you not know, that as many of
us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death: that
just as Christ Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life." When is one
raised to walk in newness of life? This scripture says that it is
when we are raised out of the waters of baptism. At that point we begin
our walk in newness of life. Newness of life does not begin until after
baptism.

In John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus, "Unless one is
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Then two verses later
in John 3:5, Jesus tells how being born again takes place: "Unless
one is born of waterand the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God." Our Lord is very emphatic in what he says. No
man has the power or authority to repeal what our Lord has said. Nor does
anyone have the authority to rationalize it away and teach otherwise. Jesus said that we must
be born of water and the Spirit. Jesus said that being born again
must not only include the Spirit, but it must include water. Here we see
that when one is baptized in water, he is raised to walk in newness of
life, becoming a new creature, and thus he has been born again. Are you
still an old sinful creature or have you become a new creature by being baptized
into Christ?

6) The Apostle Paul says in II Timothy 2:10,
"Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with
eternal glory." Here we see that salvation is located in Christ,
and for one to be eligible for salvation, he must be in Christ. If you are
not in Christ, by being baptized into Christ, you have no hope or promise
of salvation. It will be a horrible thing for a person, who thinks he is
saved, when he stands before the Lord on the day of judgment, if he is
still outside of Christ. He will have no salvation. He will be lost
eternally in Hell.

7) In I John 5:11 we read, "And this is the
testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is
in His Son." So according to the inspired word of God, eternal
life is located in His Son, Jesus Christ. Only those in Christ have been
promised eternal life. Those who are outside of Christ have no promise of
eternal life. So what does that leave them? It leaves them only eternal
punishment, which is a sad condition. My heart bleeds for them, because I
don't want to see anyone lost. But how can you get people to wake up to
the truth of God's word?

The following chart sums up what we have been discussing
concerning the advantages of being in Christ. As we have seen, it is
baptism that puts us into Christ (Rm 6:3, Gal 3:27) so that we can enjoy
all of these spiritual blessings which are in Christ.

Where on the chart are you actually located? Outside of
Christ or inside of Christ? Not where you would like to be located, but
where are you actually located at this time, depending on whether you have
been baptized into Christ or not. If you were baptized for the remission
of sins in order to be saved then you were baptized into Christ. But if your baptism was not for the remission of sins and not to be saved, then
you are still outside of Christ. If you are outside of Christ, you have no
spiritual blessings, no redemption, no forgiveness of sins; you will be
condemned on the day of judgment; you are still an old sinful creature;
you have no hope of salvation and no hope of eternal life.

As Ephesians 2:12 says, "That at the time you
were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God
in the world." Could a situation get any more desperate than
having no hope and being without God? This is the situation of those who
are outside of Christ.

If you thought you were saved when you accepted Christ
as you personal savior, and then later you were baptized, then your
baptism was not to save you. You thought you were already saved before
baptism, but you are still lost because the baptism that puts us into
Christ also saves us. If you thought that your sins were taken away before
baptism, when you accepted Christ as your personal savior, then your
baptism was not for the purpose of forgiveness of sins. You still have
every sin you have ever committed and are still separated from God.

Questions Lesson 17

Baptized Into Christ(click on the button of the answer of your
choice)

1) (Galatians 3:27 & Romans 6:3) The only way to
get into Christ is

To only believe in Him.

Saying the sinner's prayer.

Baptism.

2)
There
are many people in Christ who were not baptized into Christ.

3) (Ephesians 1:3) Every spiritual blessing is
located

In Christ.

Outside of Christ.

In every person's heart.

4)
Not
all spiritual blessings are located in Christ.

5) (Romans 8:1) What advantage is stated here for
those who are in Christ Jesus?

There is no advantage.

No condemnation.

Condemnation.

6)
If we
are not baptized into Christ we will be eternally condemned.

7) (Ephesians 1:7) Where is redemption and
forgiveness of sins located?

Outside of Christ.

At confession before a priest.

In Christ.

8)
Those
who have not been baptized into Christ have been redeemed and forgiven of
their sins.

9) (2 Corinthians 5:17) If anyone is in Christ he is

A new creation.

An old sinful creation.

Lost.

10)
If one
has not been baptized into Christ he is still an old sinful creature.